In-depth analysis of the day’s news, plus stories and gossip from Australian politics.
Scott Morrison has just weeks to prove: is he a conservative or a con
I don’t want to spend too much time on all these Newspolls that show that Shorten’s ALP is going to…
No, no, no Alyssa Milano
I know it’s only March, but I think I may well have founder the winner of the “Dumbest Tweet of 2019”. In…
Freedom’s just another word, so don’t take it for granted
“Freedom’s just another word for nothin’ left to lose.” So sang Janis Joplin in her 1971 hit Me and Bobby…
How the school student strike reduces kids to puppets
School students are being recruited and organised to strike from school this Friday, 15 March. The website, schoolstrike4climate.com claims the…
Menzies, Malcolm, misogyny and merit
Malcolm Turnbull—our now disgruntled former prime minister—believes that that the Liberal Party “absolutely” has a woman problem. And, somewhat unsurprisingly,…
What’s woke this week?
Wokeworld’s Ministry of Inculcation has been out and about at schools, universities and colleges around the world recently and we’d…
If you want bold ideas for a fair go for Australia, Bill, try these
Despite government being the only thief of wages in this country, Bill Shorten has announced an ironic policy to combat…
Why myopic Millennials have red stars in their eyes
Irony is still not dead, despite never-ending attempts on its life – Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez continues to slag off capitalism at…
The West’s war on white men
To read about sexual oppression in the Western media storybook is to enter a surreal world. In its distorting mirror,…
Check your blowhardism
Being a blowhard means never having to say you’re sorry. When you’re not telling everyone what to think about climate…
‘Learnings’ for the lead up to Friday’s student strike for climate change
Here’s an idea for English and Philosophy teachers for this coming Friday, March 15. Why don’t you do some Socratic…
Death on the Derwent: a new witness cries foul
In as emotional 60 Minutes interview last night, Meaghan Vass told the truth. ‘The objective evidence backs it up,’ as…
‘Corporate values’: any more than marketing?
Have you ever wondered what ‘corporate values’ are? I must confess here that it is entirely possible that ‘values’ do…
Backwards & Forwards: the week in politics, the week to come
Looking back If there’s a week to be rued by the Coalition if they lose the upcoming election badly, it’ll…
The hottest summer on record except for the ones that we’ve changed
This last summer has been hot in south-eastern Australia. But was it the hottest ever? Summer 80 years ago was…
ABC Barbie
Congratulations to Ita Buttrose for being designated the next ABC chair, where the former Murdoch and Packer editor will no…
Why will Big Public Health only fight smoking on their terms?
All states and territories in Australia have adopted tobacco control policies that make the possession of nicotine e-cigarettes or vaporisers,…
Quit ya whinging, Turnbull
There is a long-held tradition that Australian notables do not criticise their country, its leaders, government or policies when overseas.…
Modern Monetary Theory, same old mistakes
A radical 10-year plan which charts the course for a government takeover of the American economy has been proposed by…
Turnbull’s coup delusion – they weren’t afraid that I would lose, but I would win
Forget about Julie Bishop and her “I could have won the election” lines from Sunday. In an infinitely more damaging…
What’s the point of banning Milo?
Milo Yiannopoulos, alleged far-right demagogue, has now been banned from entering Australia due to the risk that he might ‘incite…
Thugby league can’t even get a gangbang right
I was sent the NRL Penrith Panthers sex-tapes and after viewing the videos, my sympathy is with the women. I…
Won’t somebody please think of not having children?
There is now a group of some 60 men and women apparently, and no doubt growing fast, not least thanks…
Labor’s new abortion stance: ‘merciless, unjustified and simply wrong’
Traditionally, the Australian Labor Party, has been a product of Judeo-Christian values. But with the unveiling of Labor’s new abortion…
Time to tackle the bullies or risk freedom of speech
While American conservatives can rejoice after President Trump announced an executive order to withdraw funding from public universities if they don’t uphold…